Ms. Westdyke's Blog

Last Day of School!

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:35:30 GMT

Thursday, June 5th is the last day of school. Students have early release at 11:30. Please bring a bag or backpack to retrieve any remaining papers or other personal items from the classroom and/or locker. Any unclaimed items will be disposed of at the end of the day to make room for next year!

Tuesday, June 3: Class Party

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:49:37 GMT

We will have our class party on Tuesday. If you have not already paid, please remember to bring your $5. Also, please remember to bring the food, drink, or other item you said you would bring. We will eat, play a couple of games, and make bracelets for each student to take home.

Nature Journal: Due for Extra Credit May 28th

Sat, 24 May 2008 22:49:51 GMT

For those of you who wish to turn in your Nature Journal early, the deadline is May 28th. Ten points of extra credit are possible for those who turn it in early while meeting both quality and quantity standards. All fifteen entries must include detailed illustrations and a full page of written journaling. Good luck!

Thanks for coming to Portfolio Night!

Fri, 23 May 2008 01:16:50 GMT

Thank you to all of the parents who showed their support at Portfolio Night tonight. It was great to see each of you and to share in the success of your students this year.

Friday is Hawaiian Shirt Day!

Fri, 23 May 2008 01:15:42 GMT

Join us in the fun spirit day. Wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt to school.

Attention: Lit Students!

Mon, 19 May 2008 23:07:37 GMT

I hope that you all had a great time of your Eastlake Field Trip. Please remember that you need to bring both portions of your Lit project with you to class on Tuesday. This includes your 5-paragraph summary and your 5 character/artifact/setting trading cards. You will complete the third part of your project in class. Please be on time and make sure you have your book with you!

Westdyke Monday Letter 5/12/08

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:44:49 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: Read, read, and read! Students should complete the reading of their novel for the semester book project by this Wednesday, May 14^th. The project is due on the 19^th. Students will complete two of the three project pieces at home. The third will be completed in class on the 19th. Please note that many recent assignments have been placed into the student’s portfolios, rather than Monday folders. These can be viewed on the 5/6 portfolio night, which will be May 22^nd from 4-6pm.

MATH: We will continue to work with problem solving skills using the Mensa puzzles in class. Check these out with your students! They are challenging, yet fun. Students are working hard on their trimester project, in which they will construct a 3-D model of an apartment. Check my calendar for specific details about how the work should be completed. I have decided to have the students complete this project in class. I have provided most of the materials through the PSC grant that I received in the fall. If your student needs something extra, please have them bring it in. We will be working on the project on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday this week. This project is now due on May 22nd. This is a change to one day earlier. This means that students will be able to set up their projects for viewing on Portfolio Night, May 22^nd from 4-6pm. We will also continue to work on Module 6 lessons on Wednesday and Friday.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Tuesday and Thursday this week. In terms of content, we will continue to learn about the expansion of the United States through Lewis & Clark. Students will complete two more journal entries this week. One will be done in class, and one will be completed as homework. Please make sure that each student is up to date with their journal entries, particularly if he/she has been absent recently. In total, students will complete 15 journal entries. As of Friday the 9^th, we have completed 10 of the 15 entries. As a reminder, my class will go on the Eastlake walking field trip on Friday. Please let me know if you can chaperone! Also, the permission slip was sent via e-mail blast and also paper copy last week. Please get these signed and sent back ASAP, as only a few kids have turned them in at this point.

Westdyke Monday Letter 5/5/2008

Tue, 06 May 2008 03:32:32 GMT

LANGUAGE ARTS: This week, students will complete their poetry unit, writing pieces #9 and #10. Details for these assignments will be posted to my calendar this week. I will provide a rubric for the upcoming trimester novel project on Tuesday. Students should complete the reading of their book by May 14^th. The project is due on the 19^th. Students will complete two of the three project pieces at home. The third will be completed in class on the 19th. We will work on Spelling Packet #25, and have a test on Friday of this week. Please note that many recent assignments have been placed into the student’s portfolios, rather than Monday folders. These can be viewed on the 5/6 portfolio night, which will be May 22^nd from 4-6pm.

THEME: We will work on our quilt pieces on Wednesday this week. In terms of content, we will continue to learn about the expansion of the United States through Lewis & Clark. Students will have a journal entry due in their Nature Journals this week as a homework assignment. Please make sure that each student is up to date with their journal entries, particularly if he/she has been absent recently. In total, students will complete 15 journal entries. As a reminder, my class will be visited by guest speaker Susie Mottashed this week. She will spend an hour sharing her book and talking to the kids about nature journaling. They will do a second journal entry outside with her.

Math in the Mall Field Trip Friday, May 2nd

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:14:49 GMT

This is one of our most fun field trips of the year. Students will be organized according to math class. Please contact me if you can chaperone. I will be confirming via telephone on Tuesday. Students will be able to purchase their lunch as well as a dessert while at the mall. No other shopping is allowed. Students will need to stay with their chaperones as they complete a packet of challenging activities in the mall.

Field Trip Thursday!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:44:01 GMT

We will be visiting the Pioneer and Quilt Museums in Golden on Thursday. Each child needs a sack lunch. Please include an extra snack in the lunch that can be eaten mid-morning. We will be doing a little walking between museums, so please wear tennis shoes.